One of the hardest things for me has always been self-discipline. It is so easy to just let things slide. I have fit into the category of "over-achiever" in some areas of my life in the past, in many ways due to my desire to please others. I grew up loving to make the adults in my life proud: my parents, my parents' friends, my teachers. Now that I don't have "grown-ups" to impress, or even a boss, how do I motivate myself to wake up early every day? To exercise? To keep our homeschool running efficiently?
I am thinking a lot about this lately. And I realize that, as mothers, our actions speak more loudly than words. My kids are watching me. I don't want them to grow up not knowing how to use their own self-discipline because it was rarely modeled to them by me.
I guess this is a New Year's Resolution of sorts, a few weeks late. I am doing an 'All Out Week.' For 7 days I am going to try to live the life I wish I lived 365 days per year: following my exercise schedule, my eating plan, my homeschool schedule, my home routines, even down to the drinking of my 8 glasses of water each day.
I'm hoping at the very least to get out of my winter doldrums by kick-starting my motivation. It's either this or a last minute trip to the Caribbean (and I don't think that's happening).
"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony." - William Henry Channing
I am 100 % behind you, Samantha! I think you are amazing, and while I appreciate your self reflection...I hope that you appreciate all that you have started and changes in the last 4 months. Love you xoxo
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